WITH drought conditions expanding across the State despite recent rain, the NSW drought support package has been extended to include four more regions within the existing budget.
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The Liverpool Plains, Gloucester, Oberon and Midwestern local government areas (LGAs) are now included in the NSW government's support package.
The measures will be backdated to February 1, 2014, and Deputy Premier Andrew Stoner said despite widespread rainfall since then, many farmers still needed help.
“While the current spell of wet weather in many parts of the State has come as a welcome reprieve to our primary producers, it is still not enough, and we have acted to ensure they remain supported,” Mr Stoner said.
Mr Stoner announced the addition of the four LGAs to the drought support package with Primary Industries Minister Katrina Hodgkinson on Friday.
“This drought has had disastrous impacts on rural and regional communities in NSW and in many cases it will take years to recover,” Ms Hodgkinson said.
The drought support package is the same $14.6 million package announced in February, which was available to 23 LGAs and the far west Unincorporated Area.
The measures include:
- Up to $20,000 per producer in the form of a Transport Assistance Reimbursement;
- Up to $30,000 per producer for Emergency Water Infrastructure Grants; and
- The waiving of Western Lands Lease payments, Local Land Services rates and Wild Dog Destruction Board rates for a 12-month period, where applicable.
For more information, visit www.dpi.nsw.gov.au
